U.S. patent number 7,610,849 [Application Number 11/371,796] was granted by the patent office on 2009-11-03 for in-door coffee maker for refrigerators.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Whirlpool Corporation. Invention is credited to William J. Bigge, Steven C. Drees.
United States Patent |
7,610,849 |
Bigge , et al. |
November 3, 2009 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
In-door coffee maker for refrigerators
Abstract
A refrigerator has a cabinet including a refrigeration
compartment and a supply of water in the cabinet, with a door
attached to the cabinet to selectively open and close access to the
refrigeration compartment. A water conduit is located in the door
to supply water from the cabinet supply of water to a point of
utilization in the door. A water heater is located in the door
arranged to heat water from the cabinet supply of water. A brew
chamber is located in the door and arranged to receive a supply of
ground coffee beans and water heated by the water heater to make
brewed coffee. A dispensing outlet communicates with the brew
chamber to allow for the dispensing of the brewed coffee at the
door of the refrigerator, and a control is provided to control the
heating of the water and the dispensing of the brewed coffee.
Inventors: |
Bigge; William J. (St. Joseph,
MI), Drees; Steven C. (Stevensville, MI) |
Assignee: |
Whirlpool Corporation (Benton
Harbor, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
37989010 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/371,796 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2006 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20070209522 A1 |
Sep 13, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
99/290; 62/390;
99/275 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J
31/36 (20130101); F25D 23/12 (20130101); A47J
31/42 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47J
31/00 (20060101); B67D 5/62 (20060101); F25D
23/12 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;99/290,275,306,307,295
;62/389,390,391,392 ;222/146.1,146.2,146.6 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Alexander; Reginald L
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Goodwin; Kirk W. Greer, Burns &
Crain Ltd
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet including a refrigeration
compartment and a supply of water in said cabinet, a door attached
to said cabinet to selectively open and close access to said
refrigeration compartment, a water conduit located in said door to
supply water from said cabinet supply of water to a point of
utilization in said door, a water heater in said door arranged to
heat water from said cabinet supply of water, a brew chamber
located in said door and arranged to receive a supply of ground
coffee beans and water heated by said water heater to make brewed
coffee, a dispensing outlet communicating with said brew chamber to
allow for the dispensing of said brewed coffee at said door of said
refrigerator, said dispensing outlet comprising two dispensers for
dispensing brewed coffee, and a control for controlling said
heating of said water and said dispensing of said brewed
coffee.
2. A refrigerator according to claim 1, further including
insulation provided between said water heater and said
refrigeration compartment.
3. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said brew chamber
includes an area for receiving a porous package of ground coffee
beans.
4. A refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein said area comprises
a removable chamber.
5. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet including a refrigeration
compartment and a supply of water in said cabinet, a door attached
to said cabinet to selectively open and close access to said
refrigeration compartment, a water conduit located in said door to
supply water from said cabinet supply of water to a point of
utilization in said door, a water heater in said door arranged to
heat water from said cabinet supply of water, a reservoir for
receiving and holding whole coffee beans, a brew chamber located in
said door and arranged to receive a supply of ground coffee beans
and water heated by said water heater to make brewed coffee, a
dispensing outlet communicating with said brew chamber to allow for
the dispensing of said brewed coffee at said door of said
refrigerator, and a control for controlling said heating of said
water and said dispensing of said brewed coffee.
6. A refrigerator according to claim 1, including a collection
chamber for grounds used in said brew chamber.
7. A refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein said brew chamber
is sized to provide a single serving of coffee.
8. A refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein said reservoir is
located in said door.
9. A refrigerator according to claim 5, including a grinding
mechanism to grind said whole coffee beans.
10. A refrigerator according to claim 9, including a mechanism for
transporting ground coffee beans from said grinding mechanism to
said brew chamber.
11. A refrigerator according to claim 10, including a collection
chamber for grounds used in said brew chamber.
12. A refrigerator according to claim 11, including a filled
collection chamber indicator.
13. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing
outlet comprises a water dispenser in addition to a coffee
dispenser at said door.
14. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing
outlet comprises an ice dispenser in addition to a coffee dispenser
at said door.
15. A refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein said dispensing
outlet comprises a water dispenser in addition to a coffee
dispenser at said door.
16. A refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein said dispensing
outlet comprises an ice dispenser in addition to a coffee dispenser
at said door.
17. A refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein said reservoir is
in thermal communication with the refrigeration compartment.
18. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet including a refrigeration
compartment and a supply of water in said cabinet, a door attached
to said cabinet to selectively open and close access to said
refrigeration compartment, a water conduit located in said door to
supply water from said cabinet supply of water to a point of
utilization in said door, including a water dispenser to allow for
the dispensing of said water to a user, a water heater in said door
arranged to heat a portion of said water from said cabinet supply
of water, a reservoir for receiving and holding whole coffee beans,
a grinding mechanism to grind said whole coffee beans, and a
mechanism for transporting ground coffee beans from said grinding
mechanism to said brew chamber a brew chamber located in said door
and arranged to receive a supply of ground coffee beans and said
water heated by said water heater to make brewed coffee, a
dispensing outlet communicating with said brew chamber to allow for
the dispensing of said brewed coffee at said door of said
refrigerator, and a control for controlling said heating of said
water and said dispensing of said brewed coffee.
19. A refrigerator according to claim 18, wherein said reservoir is
located in said door.
20. A refrigerator according to claim 18, including a collection
chamber for grounds used in said brew chamber.
21. A refrigerator according to claim 20, including a filled
collection chamber indicator.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a refrigerator having an
in-door coffee maker.
Refrigerators with water and/or ice dispensing units are well
known. Also known are coffee makers that use prepackaged bags or
pods of ground coffee beans, or which accept whole coffee beans and
include a grinding mechanism to grind a sufficient quantity of
beans as needed to brew a desired quantity of coffee.
Coffee makers are known which brew an entire pot of coffee,
generally enough for at least 6 to 8 cups of coffee, and also,
single serve coffee makers are known, such as disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,233,914, for people who wish no more than a single cup
of coffee, rather than brewing multiple cups at one time. Coffee
maker are also know to incorporate coffee bean frinders with the
brew chamber, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,658.
A disadvantage of coffee makers is that they require a certain
amount of counter space in the kitchen, or are required to be
mounted hanging from the underside of an upper cabinet. In some
cases, coffee makers have been combined with other counter top
appliances, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. D340,831, D479,431
and 6,737,620. However, these combination appliances merely take up
more counter space. Another disadvantage is that such coffee makers
require the user to measure out and dispense a quantity of water to
the coffee maker each time a pot or cup of coffee is to be
brewed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves the identified problems and provides
convenience to the user, including:
A system that is already plumbed in a refrigerator or water and/or
ice, thereby eliminating the need for consumers to refill a water
reservoir each time coffee is to be brewed.
A space saving appliance, since the user will not necessarily need
to have an additional coffee maker taking up counter space, or
undercabinet space in the kitchen.
Presenting a central location for beverage dispensing in the
kitchen, that being at the refrigerator, where not only cold water
and ice, or other chilled beverages from inside the refrigerator
may be obtained, but also coffee and other brewed hot beverages as
well.
In an embodiment of the invention, a refrigerator comprises a
cabinet including a refrigeration compartment and a supply of water
in the cabinet, with a door attached to the cabinet to selectively
open and close access to the refrigeration compartment. A water
conduit is located in the door to supply water from the cabinet
supply of water to a point of utilization in the door. A water
heater is located in the door arranged to heat water from the
cabinet supply of water. A brew chamber is located in the door and
arranged to receive a supply of ground coffee beans and water
heated by the water heater to make brewed coffee. A dispensing
outlet communicates with the brew chamber to allow for the
dispensing of the brewed coffee at the door of the refrigerator,
and a control is provided to control the heating of the water and
the dispensing of the brewed coffee.
In an embodiment, the refrigerator further includes insulation
between the water heater and the refrigeration compartment.
In an embodiment, the brew chamber includes an area for receiving a
porous package of ground coffee beans. In an embodiment, the area
comprises a removable chamber.
In an embodiment, the brew chamber is sized to provide a single
serving of coffee.
In an embodiment, the refrigerator includes a reservoir for
receiving and holding whole coffee beans. In an embodiment, the
reservoir is located in the door. In an embodiment, the reservoir
includes a grinding mechanism to grind the whole coffee beans. In
an embodiment, the refrigerator includes a mechanism for
transporting ground coffee beans from the grinding mechanism to the
brew chamber.
In an embodiment, the refrigerator includes a collection chamber
for grounds used in the brew chamber. In an embodiment, the
refrigerator includes a filled collection chamber indicator.
In an embodiment, the dispensing outlet comprises two dispensers
for dispensing brewed coffee.
In an embodiment, the dispensing outlet comprises a water dispenser
in addition to a coffee dispenser at the door.
In an embodiment, the dispensing outlet comprises an ice dispenser
in addition to a coffee dispenser at the door.
In an embodiment, the refrigerator includes a water pump between
the water heater and the brew chamber.
These and other aspects and details of the present invention will
become apparent upon a reading of the detailed description and a
review of the accompanying drawings. Specific embodiments of the
present invention are described herein. The present invention is
not intended to be limited to only these embodiments. Changes and
modifications can be made to the described embodiments and yet fall
within the scope of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator cabinet
incorporating the principles of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a first embodiment of the coffee
maker in the door of the refrigerator of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a second embodiment of the
coffee maker in the door of the refrigerator of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In an embodiment of the invention, a refrigerator 20 is provided
with an in-door coffee maker 21. The refrigerator comprises a
cabinet 22 including an interior refrigeration compartment 24 for
holding food and other items to be held at a reduced temperature.
The refrigerator may include two or more refrigeration compartments
which may be kept at different temperatures, such as one below the
freezing temperature of water and the other above the freezing
temperature of water. The refrigerator 20 includes a door 26
attached to the cabinet 22 to selectively open and close access to
the refrigeration compartment 24. More than one door 26 may be
provided as well. Although FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment known
as a side-by-side refrigeration appliance, the present invention
may also be provided in single door refrigerators and refrigerators
with a top mount freezer compartment or a bottom mount
refrigeration compartment.
A supply of water 28 is provided in the cabinet 22. This supply of
water may come from a domestic water supply, such as the plumbing
system of a house or office where the refrigerator is located. As
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a water conduit 30 is located in the door
26 to supply water from the cabinet supply of water 28 to one or
more points of utilization in the door, as described below. The
water conduit 30 may come from the supply of water 28 through a top
hinge of the door 26, or a bottom hinge of the door, or some other
connection arrangement. The coffee maker 21 includes a water heater
32 located in the door 26 and arranged to heat water received from
the cabinet supply of water 28. Insulation 33 is provided in the
door to prevent heat from the water heater 32 from flowing to the
refrigeration compartment 24.
A brew chamber 34 for the coffee maker 21 is located in the door 26
and is arranged to receive a supply of ground coffee beans and
water heated by the water heater 32 to make brewed coffee. The
water may be transported from the water heater 32 to the brew
chamber 34 by means of a pump 36, particularly if the water heater
32 is located at a lower elevation in the door 26 than the brew
chamber 34, as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 3.
A dispensing outlet 38 communicates with the brew chamber 34 to
allow for the dispensing of the brewed coffee at the door 26 of the
refrigerator 20. The dispensing outlet 38 may be located in a
recess 40 in the door 26, sized to receive a coffee cup 41, or
other container. In some embodiments (as seen in FIG. 1), two
dispensing outlets 38 may be provided in the recess 40. An overflow
reservoir 42 may be provided below the recess 40 to capture and
hold any overflows or spills from the coffee cup 41, or to provide
a collection area if a user fails to properly place a coffee cup or
other container in the recess before the dispensing of the brewed
coffee begins.
A control 43 is provided, which may include various input buttons
or switches 44 on the door 26 of the refrigerator 20. The control
43 is used to control the heating of the water and the dispensing
of the brewed coffee. The control 43 may also operate the pump 36
if one is provided.
In an embodiment of the coffee maker 21 such as shown in FIG. 2,
the brew chamber 34 includes an area 45 for receiving a porous
package of ground coffee beans. The area 45 may comprise a
removable chamber, such as a drawer that the user can remove and
replace, allowing for a change of the package of ground coffee
beans when it is desired to brew additional coffee. In such an
arrangement, the brew chamber 34 may be sized to provide a single
serving of coffee, or in some embodiments, two servings of
coffee.
To operate such an embodiment of the coffee maker 21, the user
would place a package of ground coffee beans in the area 45 of the
brew chamber 34, and the cup 41 to receive brewed coffee in the
recess 40, and then operate the control 43 to begin the brewing of
the coffee. A volume of water would be supplied to the water heater
32, and once heated to the proper temperature, the water would be
transported to the brew chamber 34. After the water has been in
contact with the ground coffee beans for a sufficient amount of
time, the brewed coffee is dispensed through the dispensing outlet
38 into the waiting coffee cup 41.
If a user simply wanted a cup of hot water, such as for brewing tea
or making instant coffee, the user would merely omit placing the
ground coffee beans in the area 45 of the brew chamber 34, so that
the water heated by the water heater 32 would be dispensed to the
dispensing outlet 38, perhaps following a holding period in the
brew chamber 34. The control 43 could be provided with an input
selection for hot water only, which would permit avoidance of the
holding period in the brew chamber 34.
In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the
refrigerator 20 includes a reservoir 50 for receiving and holding
whole coffee beans. In an embodiment, the reservoir 50 is located
in the door 26. In such an embodiment, the reservoir 50 may be
located such that it is in thermal communication with the
refrigeration compartment 24, such as being isolated by a thin,
non-insulated wall or liner 52, or an open chute 54, so that the
whole coffee beans will be retained in a fresh state for a longer
period of time, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,103. In an
embodiment, the reservoir 50 includes a grinding mechanism 56 to
grind the whole coffee beans, as needed for a particular brewing
cycle. This grinding mechanism 56 may be located at the bottom of
the reservoir 50 so that it is gravity fed or it may located
elsewhere, with the beans being transported to the grinding
mechanism manually or by some mechanical transport arrangement. In
an embodiment, the refrigerator 20 includes a mechanism 58 for
transporting ground coffee beans from the grinding mechanism 56 to
the brew chamber 34. If the grinding mechanism 56 is located above
the brew chamber 34, the transport mechanism 58 may be as simple as
a connecting tube or passage, or the mechanism may be more complex,
particularly if the grinding mechanism 56 is located some distance
away from or below the brew chamber 34.
The ground coffee beans will arrive in the brew chamber 34, and
following the introduction of water from the water heater 32,
brewed coffee will be available for dispensing from the dispensing
outlet 38, as described above.
In an embodiment where loose coffee grounds are placed into the
brew chamber 34, the refrigerator 20 may include a collection
chamber 60 for grounds that have been used in the brew chamber. The
collection chamber 60 may be located below the brew chamber 34 so
that the used grounds may be moved to the collection chamber upon
operation of a door 61 and gravity, or a more complex arrangement
may be provided for moving the used grounds from the brew chamber
34 to the collection chamber 60. In an embodiment, the collection
chamber 60 may be provided with an indicator 62 to provide a visual
or audible indication to the user that the chamber is filled and
requires cleaning. The indicator 62 could be located on the
collection chamber 60, or could be located on a control panel
adjacent to the input buttons 44.
In an embodiment, a second dispensing outlet 64, in the form of a
water dispenser may be provided in addition to the coffee
dispensing outlet 38 at the door 26. This will allow for the
dispensing of cold water, as is known in refrigeration appliances.
A third dispensing outlet 66, in the form of an ice dispenser may
also be provided in addition to the coffee dispensing outlet 38 at
the door 26.
The present invention has been described utilizing particular
embodiments. As will be evident to those skilled in the art,
changes and modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments
and yet fall within the scope of the present invention. For
example, various components could be utilized separately or
independently in some embodiments without using all of the other
components in the particular described embodiment. The disclosed
embodiment is provided only to illustrate aspects of the present
invention and not in any way to limit the scope and coverage of the
invention. The scope of the invention is therefore to be limited
only by the appended claims.
As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the invention is
susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and
modifications which may differ particularly from those that have
been described in the preceding specification and description. It
should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope of the
patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and
properly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.
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